>>6010398>Art: Jerry Bingham>Alt-Text: Comic art of Amand Waller pointing and yelling at Batman>Dialouge Samples: Stan Berkowitz. Alan Moore & J.M. Dematteis.Kal: You’re right. I do love being a hero. Saving those who can’t save themselves. I say I do it for them. But I also do it for me.
Your son rushes into the crowd. The rioters making way for him to set the perfect stage.
Van: Pa! I’m scared.
You hug the child and speak words that feel like blades in your throat.
Kal: Van, when you were born, it was the happiest day of my life. When I first saw your beautiful little face, your fragile fingers squeezed my hand so tight, I never wanted to let go. I’ve watched every step, guided you through every struggle but, Van<span class="mu-i">sob</span> you’re not real. None of this is real.
The world crumbles The Glass Forest shatters, thought beasts project their dying thoughts from their horns as shards cut them to pieces.
The Gold Volcano erupts, drowning Atomic Town in a deluge of worthless molten metal. All around you voices scream for salvation, for a hero.
An endless parade of problems for you to solve. You could be here forever, trapped in an intoxicating cycle of praise and heroism.
But the time for heroes is over. Now is the time for service.
Superman: Let’s go.
For the second time, Krypton dies. For the second time, Earth gains a champion.
___
Ivy: He’s back! Everyone let up.
Ivy drops the vines, Hector loosens his grip and Clark falls. He rises from his knees and looks around.
Hector withering to a husk. Leon hyperventilating. Michael shivering under your cape.
Something sparks in Clark you wished never would. Something that should never be paired with the power to crack a planet.
Something you know intimately. Rage.
Superman: <span class="mu-r"><span class="mu-s">WALLLER!</span></span>Where is she?
Batman: For a base like this, an underground bunker. Look for a pressured doo-
Sfx:SWOOSH-CRACK!
You look up. Waller is held in the sky by the most powerful man in the world.
Your mentor stares down the closest thing to God, his eyes glowing with fire and pain. And she. Does. Not. Blink.
Superman: I just destroyed everything I ever wanted. It felt like tearing off my arm.
Waller: We both know you don’t have the stomach for what you feel like doing. Now let me down so the grownups can talk.
He tenses, then sets her down. Far harder than usual.
Batman: Waller! What the hell is wrong with you? These are traumatized kids!
Waller: Isn’t that the Bat calling the kettle black? Or are you gonna tell me you carded the twink you keep in your basement?
Batman: We all chose the mission. We fight because we believe in it. Coercing prisoners, threatening people into combat, it goes against everything you taught me.
